The_budweiser Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 By Michael Collins: IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (29-2, 21 KO’s) and his promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport have reportedly turned down a huge £1million offer from Frank Warren for Froch to step up and fight WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KO’s) in a catchweight fight. Instead of taking that big payday for his fighter Froch and thrilled British boxing fans, Hearn has instead matched Froch up against American Yusaf Mack (31-4-2, 17 KO’s) in a fight that will take place on November 17th at the Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK. Hearn told thesun.co.uk “His camp could offer £10m, the fight isn’t going to happen. It would be impossible for Carl Froch to move up to 175.” That’s interesting because according to Warren he was open to having Cleverly fight Froch at a catchweight to make the fight happen. Froch wasn’t necessarily being asked to move up 7 pounds in weight to take on the 25-year-old unbeaten Cleverly at the full weight for light heavywweight at 175. Warren said this to Sky Sports News “We could have done it at a catchweight. They declined.” That’s a lot of money for Froch and Hearn to be walking away from. It’s not just the money, though. It’s the attention that the fight would have received that hurts the most. Froch and Hearn could have really gotten a lot of press if they agreed to take on Cleverly, because it’s a fight that boxing fans in Britain and around the world would be interested to see. I don’t know of anyone right of hand that wants to see Froch fight the 32-year-old Mack. That just seems like an ugly mismatch to me. Of course, one could understand Froch and his promoter Hearn saying no to a fight against Cleverly due to it being a risky bout. Froch has a rematch coming up in early 2013 against Lucian Bute and they also hope to fight Mikkel Kessler in a rematch as well. Is Froch and his promoter worried about a fight against Cleverly? I don’t know, but it seems very odd that they would say no to all that money just because the fight wouldn’t take place at 168. If Warren is saying that a catchweight could have been used for the fight then In don’t understand how Froch and Hearn couldn’t agree to fighting Cleverly at say 171 or 172. It’s only a few pounds in weight so what’s the problem? [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2012/hearn-cleverlys-camp-could-have-offered-10million-to-fight-froch-and-the-fight-still-wouldnt-happen/#more-1300[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamasadlittleboy Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 ...where has Warren got £1,000,000 from? He's not able to keep the likes of Callum Johnson busy for a fraction of that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_budweiser Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 ...where has Warren got £1,000,000 from? He's not able to keep the likes of Callum Johnson busy for a fraction of that I thought Callum Johnson was brilliant at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and I tipped him to be huge, I expected him to do better than the previous boxing Olympiansa couple years earlyier. I've been very disapointed in his progress, hes had 5 fights since December 2010 and is 27/28 years old, they need to take a gamble with this guy. Warren has to get his finger out and show some faith in Callum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meathead Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I'm actually inclined to believe that Froch was aware of the offer and turned it down. After all he's fought at the elite level for a while now and still has a big fight in Kessler to chase down. A loss to a younger, quicker and most likely bigger but ultimately unheralded fighter may have written off a chance at the ultimate goal of a Kessler rematch. It's not that I believe Froch avoided Cleverly, no danger of that, but at the moment it would have been too much of a risk to have taken the fight. If the fight does happen it'll be when Froch has decided to hang them up. That way win, lose or draw it wouldn't affect the bigger picture that is a Kessler rematch. On Johnson, didn't he damage his hip or something? I'm sure he been lined up for a few shows but has pulled it due to injury. If its not hip I'm sure it's something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamasadlittleboy Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 ...where has Warren got £1,000,000 from? He's not able to keep the likes of Callum Johnson busy for a fraction of that I thought Callum Johnson was brilliant at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and I tipped him to be huge, I expected him to do better than the previous boxing Olympiansa couple years earlyier. I've been very disapointed in his progress, hes had 5 fights since December 2010 and is 27/28 years old, they need to take a gamble with this guy. Warren has to get his finger out and show some faith in Callum. Johnson is just one of a handful of fighters that Warren is fucking over, Joe Selkirk is another...these guys sign with Warren but they don't get anything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I think the Froch issue is deflecting us from the question we should be asking: Why is Warren trying to find a super-middleweight to fight his supposedly world-class light-heavyweight? Cleverly is supposedly angling for Dawson/Shumenov/Hopkins, so try fighting some proper light-heavyweights and stop planting articles suggesting Froch is avoiding Cleverly instead of having other plans. If Froch beat him, then what? He has no particular career path at light-heavy, whereas super-middle is crammed with potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I think the Froch issue is deflecting us from the question we should be asking: Why is Warren trying to find a super-middleweight to fight his supposedly world-class light-heavyweight? Cleverly is supposedly angling for Dawson/Shumenov/Hopkins, so try fighting some proper light-heavyweights and stop planting articles suggesting Froch is avoiding Cleverly instead of having other plans. If Froch beat him, then what? He has no particular career path at light-heavy, whereas super-middle is crammed with potential. To reverse that. Why is Froch fighting a Light Heavy? A 5 year Light Heavy? Does beating Mack mean more than beating Cleverly? Does it bring a bigger crowd and more money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 To reverse that. Why is Froch fighting a Light Heavy? A 5 year Light Heavy? Does beating Mack mean more than beating Cleverly? Does it bring a bigger crowd and more money? It allows him to fight in Nottingham It allows him to have a guaranteed easy fight. It allows him to avoid working with Warren. There may be other reasons, but Froch is a proven fighter at his weight engaging in an admittedly rubbish keep-busy, whereas Cleverly is a nonentity at his weight and has yet to prove himself against anyone stiffer than Tony Bellew or Karo Murat. Froch is in a position to please himself, and appears to be doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 To reverse that. Why is Froch fighting a Light Heavy? A 5 year Light Heavy? Does beating Mack mean more than beating Cleverly? Does it bring a bigger crowd and more money? It allows him to fight in Nottingham It allows him to have a guaranteed easy fight. It allows him to avoid working with Warren. There may be other reasons, but Froch is a proven fighter at his weight engaging in an admittedly rubbish keep-busy, whereas Cleverly is a nonentity at his weight and has yet to prove himself against anyone stiffer than Tony Bellew or Karo Murat. Froch is in a position to please himself, and appears to be doing so. Revenge for Calzaghe treating Froch the same, maybe? Clev atleast got a belt rather than beating up Robin Reid and screaming for a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Yes, but Cleverly is the champion and is screaming for a shot. What does that tell ya? And yea, Froch was a bit of a pratt obsessing over Calzaghe, but I wouldn't have thought he'd take it out on Cleverly - I mean Cleverly's not even close to the Calzaghes anymore is he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofo2 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 The same Clev that received his title by UPS mlol/ anyone that believes that Froch ducked a fight with Clev had better go see a doctor mlol/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ton Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 To suggest Froch's ducking anyone is frankly ridiculous. This is just Warren throwing claims around because Clev has no one to fight yet is acchampion. I think meat and gav have summed it up well. Rob is obviously sticking to his Welsh tinted specs mlol/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 To suggest Froch's ducking anyone is frankly ridiculous. This is just Warren throwing claims around because Clev has no one to fight yet is acchampion. I think meat and gav have summed it up well. Rob is obviously sticking to his Welsh tinted specs mlol/ He's hiding behind Eddie Hearns apron string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamasadlittleboy Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Hiding behind a guaranteed pay day instead of being dicked around by a guy with a past of not paying up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Hiding behind a guaranteed pay day instead of being dicked around by a guy with a past of not paying up... My comment about Froch is in jest. I don't doubt that he believes he would beat the young Welshman but it seems cynical that he doesn't rate the WBO belt when he was chasing one for years. Haye got paid and he was earning alot for the Chisora fight. You could certainly get a similar size crowd in Wales for a Froch vs Cleverly fight. The main point of all this is that Cleverly and his handlers have made a concerted effort to get a big fight without success. As a fan I would prefer to see a big domestic clash rather than nondescript defences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 glol/ The same Clev that received his title by UPS mlol/ Good point - Cleverly got himself a world title without having to fight for it. That wasn't an option for Froch, who needed to get a shot at one of the existing champions after beating Reid in November 2007. Now then, who had most of the belts at super-middleweight at the end of 2007? ?// Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Cleverly was unfortunate that Braehmer pulled out of their fight and then was stripped of the belt. Cleverly had spent time previously as Interim champion while waiting for a shot at Braehmer. I don't think it should count against Cleverly when the champion was stripped of the belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamasadlittleboy Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Cleverly was unfortunate that Braehmer pulled out of their fight and then was stripped of the belt. Cleverly had spent time previously as Interim champion while waiting for a shot at Braehmer. I don't think it should count against Cleverly when the champion was stripped of the belt. Interim champion after beating Nadjib Mohammedi (didn't but have Nadjib winning that one?)...the same guy who had been stopped in 1 by Thierry Karl 15 months earlier and was then stopped by Sukhotsky in 2 10 months later. A further example of the misuse of interims if nothing else (Olusegun v Matthysse is a rare example of an interim title fight that makes sense). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Cleverly was unfortunate that Braehmer pulled out of their fight and then was stripped of the belt. Cleverly had spent time previously as Interim champion while waiting for a shot at Braehmer. I don't think it should count against Cleverly when the champion was stripped of the belt. Interim champion after beating Nadjib Mohammedi (didn't but have Nadjib winning that one?)...the same guy who had been stopped in 1 by Thierry Karl 15 months earlier and was then stopped by Sukhotsky in 2 10 months later. A further example of the misuse of interims if nothing else (Olusegun v Matthysse is a rare example of an interim title fight that makes sense). Cleverly had won an official WBO light heavyweight title eliminator against Karo Murat, so had earned a shot. The fault in all this lays at the door of Braehmer who pulled out of a few fights not only against Cleverly but also Shumenov. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofo2 Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Clevs a good fighter but thats about it, he has pretty much stunk the place out with some of his recent performances and isnt even at the level of Carls Spit Bucket mlol/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 it seems cynical that he doesn't rate the WBO belt when he was chasing one for years. Was he though? He was chasing Calzaghe but I'm not sure he's ever expressed any interest in the WBO belt. Might be wrong though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 it seems cynical that he doesn't rate the WBO belt when he was chasing one for years. Was he though? He was chasing Calzaghe but I'm not sure he's ever expressed any interest in the WBO belt. Might be wrong though. I concede that he was more interested in fighting the No.1, rather than fighting for that belt though he had done bugger all to deserve a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Those were Calzaghe's favourite kind of defences! Did Calzaghe really deserve his shot at the belt vs Collins/Eubank though? Wasn't he only British champion at the time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Those were Calzaghe's favourite kind of defences! Did Calzaghe really deserve his shot at the belt vs Collins/Eubank though? Wasn't he only British champion at the time? Where as Nathan was British, Commonwealth and European? Is that the point your trying to make? grin// Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 Those were Calzaghe's favourite kind of defences! Did Calzaghe really deserve his shot at the belt vs Collins/Eubank though? Wasn't he only British champion at the time? Where as Nathan was British, Commonwealth and European? Is that the point your trying to make? grin// Whereas Froch was British champion with a few defences and also commonwealth, and were it not for the fiasco around Denis Inkin and Alejandro Berrio, would have fought a final eliminator for whichever belt it was(I assume the WBC). Froch had arguably done more than Calzaghe had to deserve a shot at the time he was moving into contention. Froch has been unlucky a few times in his career with people pulling out and/or refusing to fight him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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